Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Moorpark College earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in the United States. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Miramar College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skyline College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Students borrow a median of $10,667 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $31,347 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,667 median debt.
San Diego Mesa College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,384. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #7 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $19,139. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
College Of The Canyons placed #8 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $6,672. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
Oxnard College came in at #10 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
Saddleback College placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College placed #12 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
El Centro College came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,835. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. Set against $11,835 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #14 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,861. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,979. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Area ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,526. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $30,311. That is a strong return on a $12,526 median debt.
Santa Monica College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Cerritos College earned the #17 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Golden West College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $21,500. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santiago Canyon College placed #19 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #20 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,692. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
West Valley College placed #21 among the best values for visual & performing arts. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,191. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,132. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $24,851 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,132 median debt.
Hinds Community College landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $34,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,385 median debt.
De Anza College came in at #25 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,571, with out-of-state students paying around $12,596. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,596. Set against $7,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in visual & performing arts:
Explore the best-value visual & performing arts schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2217 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 109 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
